Conversion apparatus for liquefied gas systems



July 21, 1942.`

L. J. WHITE vy/ A\ \v Patented July 21, 1942 UNITED STATE s PATENT4ol-*FICE coNvEasioN APPARATUS Foa LIQUEmn GAS SYSTEMS Loyd J. White,

Southern Steel Company,

corporation o! Texas Application December 6,

ySan Antonio, Tex., assignor to San Antonia-Tex., a

194i, sei-mino. 421,993

1o claim.l v(c1. sz-i) I line, and .this application is a companion tomy copending application Ser. No. 420,566, filed November 26, 1941.

One of the main objects of the invention is to .provide a combinationvaporizing and separating chamber and other appurtenances for use inconjunction with an existing low pressure system designed and installedto dispense butane, either in the vapor phase or in theliquid phase,from a ties of steel now -so essential in connection with the nationaldefenseprogram.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in thespecication, when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,

' wherein:

main storage tank. The principal aim is to enable the low pressureequipment already installed to be used safely'for dispensing propanewhich, alone, has a'much higher vapor pressure than butane at the sametemperature.

As stated in the aforesaid copending application, it is contemplatedthat butane, which' has heretofore been used quite extensively inunderground liqueiied gas dispensing's'ystems, will be used moreextensively in the manufacture of high octane aviation fuel and thatpracticallyV the whole supplyin this country will be required for thatpurpose.

The design working pressure of the ordinary underground tanks orcontainers and equipment for storing and dispensing butane is notsufiicient to safely withstand the .vapor pressures of propane, alone.In accordance with the aforesaid application, propane is blended with anormally vThe gure is a sectional view of a converted system embodyingthe invention.

Referring particularly to the illustrated system, the conversionequipment is shown as being combined with a system similar to that shownin U. S. Patent 2,176,829, wherein butane or 'a blended butane fuel isdispensed in the liquid phase from a storagetank through two pressurereducingv regulators, one to reduce the pressure of the liquid andpartially vaporize it, and the other to further to service appliances.As shown in 'said patent, a tank Il is buried in the pipe ii throughwhich it is iilled and 4liquid is dispensed. Th'e standpipe has acombination liquid petroleum distillate, 'such as benzine or vcommercial gasoline, which are liquidV at'ordinary temperatures, toproduce a mixture having a' vapor pressure lower than that-of propane,alone, 1

and therebyy enable it to be used in relatively low pressure systems ofthe weight and construction nowand heretofore employed for storing anddispensing butane. This invention provides a combination or dual purposevaporizer and separating tank or chamber, together withappurtenances forconverting a single stage vapor eduction butane system into a propanegas dispensing system, wherein propane is mixed with gasoline or thelike and the gasoline is separated in and evacuated from the vaporgenerating and separating chamber, as explained in the aforesaidapplication. Theidea is to avoid the expense of replacing pressurestorage tanks and other equipment designed for such butane systems.Also, the invention avoids the necessity for consuming large quanti'-valve fitting I2, which -is identicalwith that shown in said patent, andthrough a liquid eduction tube- I3 in the' tank connected to thefitting, thence through a first stage pressure reducing regulator i4 andan underground pipe I6 exactly as shown and described in the'aforesaidpatent. In this instance, the tank is charged with a mixture of vpropaneand gasoline, as explained in the aforesaid co- 'pending application, toreduce th'e vapor pressureY to the designed working limits of thesystem. 'Y

As stated in said application, it is necessary to remove the gasolinecomponent before delivering the propane vapor to the appliences.Therefore, instead of delivering the mixture through a second stageregulator, as shown in the aforesaid patent, it isdelivered to acombination vaporizing and separating chamber, herein shown as being inthe form of a tank I6, also buried in the ground and preferably adjacentto the main storage tank. 'I'he capacity of this tank is preferably suchas to hold all of the gasoline used in the mixture which fills the mainstorage tank. In the case of a vaporizing tank should be at least halfthe size of the main tank. Y 1 The pressure ofthe vmixture is reducedby. the

' first stage regulator to, say, six to eight pounds,

small quantity of the gasoline which enriches the reduce the pressure ofthe vapor-to be deliveredground and has a standthe liquid is delivered Iof the mixture.

-50 mixture, the

of the propane component to be From the tank I6, the propane vapor isdelivered through a second stage pressure reducing regulator II and aservice pipe I8 to the consuming appliances. In this instance, theservice pipe I 8 has a low point to which a suitable undergroundrevaporizer I8, similar to that shown in Patent 2,105,383, is concerned.It is designed to revaporize any condensate which drains into it fromthe service pipe.

cally or as it accumulates, if desired. In this example, a separateliquid eduction tube 22 is welded in and passes through the top of thetank and is shown as having a valved fitting 23 at its upper endpresenting a hose connection 24, so that the valve may be opened and theliquid evacuatedv from the tank into any suitable container. Suchreclaimed gasoline may be used for ordinary purposes, such as inautomobiles, tractors` and the like.

The tank I6 is shown as having a protecting casing 25 surrounding theappurtenances and providing access thereto from above the ground.However, it is contemplated that the conversion equipment may also beapplied to above-ground systems installed in climatessuitable for thatpurpose and where such systems vare permitted to be placed above-ground.It is advantageous, however, to use the system underground in climateswhere the temperature varies quite considerably between winter andsummer. y.

When the 'conversion equipment is to be applied to a single stage vaporeduction system of the type shown in Patent 2,121,675, it will, 'ofcourse, be understood that the liquid eduction tube I3 in the pressurestorage tank III must be provided. The combination valved unit I2 in thenancesthan would be required to replace an old system designed fordispensing butane and its mixtures.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particularembodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly,since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a liquefied gas dispensing system designed todispense a low pressure gas, such as butane, including a pressurestorage tank adapted to contain a mixture of propane and gasoline andhaving means for dispensing the mixture from the tank at a reducedpressure; a conversion unit comprising a separate underground vaporizingtank connected to receive said mixture and adapted to absorb vaporizingheat from the surrounding earth; a vapor outlet conduit'connected tosaid vaporizing tank and extending toa point of use;4 a pressurereducing regulator in said conduit; a revaporizer insaid conduit; liquideduction means 4also connected to said vaporizing tank for removingseparated gasoline collected therein; and a protectingcasing on thevaporizing tank surrounding the regulator and liquid eduction means andextending above the ground level.

2. Apparatus .for converting an ordinary butane gas dispensing systemdesigned to operate at low pressure into a system for dispensing propaneand the like wherein the usual storage tank is charged with a mixture ofpropane and a readily miscible, normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel toreduce its vaporlpressure; comprising an inf` dependent unit including avaporizing tank present application issubstantially identical with thatshown in said Patent 2,121,675 and it is only necessary to remove thefitting to apply a tube I2 to the vapor outlet conduit, reference beingmade to Fig. 4 of said patent. When the fitting is not provided-withscrew threads'in the vapor outlet duct for receiving such a tube, asshown in Fig. 3 of Patent 2,176,829, it will be understood that screwthreads may either be tapped into it or the upper end of the pipe maybev bra'zed or welded to it. Then, the single-stage regulator can easilybe readjusted to act as a first-stage regulator.

Otherwise, the conversion equipment is identical systems by unskilledmechanics at a relativelyr low cost and it is very eillcient inoperation. In

fact, such converted systems will operate vas well as the onel disclosedin the aforesaid copending application. Moreover, the conversionequipment requires much less steeland dispensing apurteadapted 'to beburied in the ground in heat exchanging relation with the surroundingearth and to be connected tothe storage tank toreceive the mixture at alow pressure to vaporize the propane and separate the normally liquidfuel therefrom; means to dispense the propane vapor at service pressure;means on the tank to determine thev liquid level of the separated fuel;and means connectedv to remove the separated fuel from the vaporizingtank by virtue of the q pressure in the tank.

3. Apparatus for converting an ordinary butane gas dispensingv systemdesigned to operate at low pressure into a system for dispensing propaneand the like wherein the usual storage tank is charged with a mixture ofpropane and a readily miscible, normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel toreduce its vapor pressure; comprising an independent unit including avaporizing tank adapted to be buried in the -ground in heat exchangingrelation with the surrounding earth and to be connected to the storagetank to receive the mixture at a low pressure to vaporize the propaneand separate the normally liquid fuel therefrom;

. means to dispense the propane vapor at service pressure; means on thetank to determine the liquid level of the separated fuel; meansconnected to'remove theseparated fuel from the pane' and the likewherein the usual storage tank is charged with a mixture of propane anda readily'miscible, normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel to reduce its vaporpressure; comprising an independent unit including a vaporizing tankadapted to be buried in the ground in heat exchanging relation with thesurrounding earth an'd to be connected to the storage tank to receivethe mixture at a low' pressure to vaporize the propane and separate thenormally liquid fuel therefrom; means to dispense the propane vapor atservice pressure; means on the tank to determine the liquid level of theseparated fuel;

'means connected to remove the separated `fuel from the vaporiing tankby virtue of the pressure in the tank; a service pipe. connected to thedispensing means and .extending underground to the point of use; and a.depending revaporizer connected to the lowest point of the'.

service pipe.

5..In combination' with a liqueed gas dispensing system designed tooperate at the relatively low pressure range .required 'for butane andhaving a pressure storage tank provided with filling and dispensingappurtenances and charged y with a-mixture of propane and a readilymiscible, normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel. so that the mixturehas avapor pressure within the safe designed pressure of the system, and alsohaving a conduit provided with a pressure reducing regulator to deliverthe mixture from the tank at a relatively low pressure; a conversion,unit,V including a separate vaporizing tank connected to receive themixture from said conduit; means to dispense vapor ata low pressure fromsaid vaporizing tank; and a valved liquid eduction con- A duitcommunicating with the bottom portion of said vaporizing tank toevacuate the normally liquid fuel component of the mixture whichaccumulates therein.

6. In combination with av liqueed gas dispens- 'ing system designed tooperate at the relatively low-pressure range required for butane andhava pressure storage tank provided with illling and dispensingappurtenances` and charged with l a mixture of propane and gasoline sothat the mixture 'has a vapor pressure within the safe designed pressureof the system and also having a conduit provided with a pressurereducing r'egulator to deliver the ,mlxture.' from-the tank at.v 4 arelatively low pressure; a conversion' unit, in-

cluding an independent vaporizing and separating tank buried in theground in heat exchangv ving relation with -the surrounding earth andconnected to receive the mixture from said conduit; means to dispensevapor ata low pressure fromsaidrvaporizing. and' separating tank; avalved liquideduction conduit extending to the D 3 nected to the conduitto receive the mixture from said pressure storagegtank; means todispense vapor at a low pressure from said vaporizing and separatingtank; a liquid eduction conduit extending from the bottom portion of thevaporizing and separating tank to a point near the surface of theground; a' liquid level gauge also connected'to said tank to determinethe level of 1 the separated liquid also accessible from above theground; and a protecting casing on top of saidvaporizing and separatingtank surrounding said gaugeY andthe upstanding portion of said liquideduction pipe.

8. Conversion apparatus of the character described to be combined withan installed butane dispensing system wherein the usual storage tank ischarged with a mixture of propane and a readilyl miscible normallyliquid hydrocarbon fuel which has a vapor pressure within the designed.pressure of the system and wherein the tank also has means connectedto-deliver the mixture at a low pressure therefrom, comprising a .singleunit associated with the system connected to receive the mixture andarranged to vaporize the` propane component and separate it from thenormally liquid component; means to dispense the propane vapor atservice pressure; and means to evacuate the separated normally liquidfuel component.

9. Apparatus for converting an installed butane gas dispensing systeminto a propane system,

v wherein the usual butane pressure storage tank conduit connected todeliver propane vapor'from said chamber toa point of use.; a pressurereducing regulator in said" service conduit; and a valved liquideduction pipe communicating with the bottom" portion of said chamber toevacuate bottom of said vaporizing-and separating` tank to evacuate theresidualgas'cline which. accumulates therein; and means to determine thelevel of the accumulated gasoline. -7. In combination with a liquefiedgas dispensing system designed to operate at the relatively residualgasoline therefrom after it is separated from thefuel mixture. v .l

10. Apparatus for converting an installed butane gas dispensing systeminto a propane system, wherein the usual butane pressure storage tank ischarged with a mixture composed of propane and a readily miscible,normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel so that the Vapor pressure of themixture comes within the safe working prestube having a pressurereducing valve .leads vsure of 'the tank and wherein a liquid eduction"fromA the bottom portion of the tank to deliverl the mixture under itsown vapor pressure theren f from, comprising 4a vaporizing vandlseparating low pressure range required for butane and hav-'- ing apressure storage tank provided with filling and dispensingappurtenancesand charged withv miscible norav v a mixture of propane and a read mallyliquid hydrocarbon fuel o that the mixirig pressure f the system andalso provided with aconduit ha ing a pressure reducing regulatortodeliver the mixture from the tank at a relatively low pressure; aconversion unit, including a separate vaporizing and separatingtankadapted' to be buried in the ground in heat exchangmg'relation withthe surrounding earth and conf 75 chamber connected to receivelthemixture from said conduit and buried in the ground to'absorbvaporizing heat for the propanecomponent from the surrounding earth; aservice pipeconnected todeliver propane vapor from said chamber to ature has avapor pressure within the safe workl point of use; `a pressurereducing regulator in said service pipe; and a valved liquid eductionpipe extendingthrough-the upper' portion of said cham- Qberandcommunicating withthe bottom portion vthereof to evacuate residualnormally liquid fuel separated from the fuel mixture.

i Loin)T J. WHITE.

